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I am planning to buy a second hand car and my budget would be 200k pesos. I have narrowed down my choices between a Toyota Corolla (Lovelife 98 - 2000 GLI or 95 - 97 bigbody GLI) and a Nissan Sentra (95 - 99 Series 3/4 or 2000 - 2002 Exalta).

I really want a fuel efficient and a low maintenance one because I'm a newbie driver who doesn't have experience tinkering a car. I hope you guys can help me out!

If you choose a Sentra, you can buy a newer (well, less older car) for the same money.

And with cars of this age, it might be better to choose manual transmission to minimize problems like an abused automatic transmission dying on you. But if you do choose automatic, surplus replacements can easily be found for either the Corolla or Sentra.

Best to choose a unit that is factory stock as much as possible. No aftermarket mufflers, headers, lowered suspensions, bodykits, etc. Makes it easier to service the car when needed. And a modified car can be an abused car (racing) or improperly done modifications can result in poor fuel mileage or early wear of certain parts like shocks, balljoints, bushings, etc.

If you choose a Sentra, you can buy a newer (well, less older car) for the same money.

And with cars of this age, it might be better to choose manual transmission to minimize problems like an abused automatic transmission dying on you. But if you do choose automatic, surplus replacements can easily be found for either the Corolla or Sentra.

Thanks for your reply! So the rumors spreading that Nissan parts are more expensive than Toyotas are not true? Since it's secondhand, I know that parts are soon going to be replaced and I want to spend a whole lot of cash replacing those.

Corolla and Sentra is about the same in durability, reliability and cost of maintenance. But it's also all about the previous owner too in how he maintained the car before you bought it.

I see.. I'll keep that in mind.. I'm having second thoughts about buying a Sentra because my dad said it has a low resale value. But because of that, I think I can use it to my advantage since I can buy a less older model with the same budget.

Can you explain why Nissan Sentras have low resale value if it is as reliable as Corollas?

I see.. I'll keep that in mind.. I'm having second thoughts about buying a Sentra because my dad said it has a low resale value. But because of that, I think I can use it to my advantage since I can buy a less older model with the same budget.

Can you explain why Nissan Sentras have low resale value if it is as reliable as Corollas?

TIA!

This can be attributed to the poor after sales support of Nissan, old styles and platforms available, and The 80's myth about Nissan (ask your dad about it)

I see.. Thanks for your inputs guys! One more thing, how about the fuel efficiency of the Sentras? Does it fair well with the Corollas? Fuel efficiency is among my top priorities so I really want a fuel efficient ride.

I know about the 80s myth! Not because I'm old but because when I was small, the car in THAT myth is the one in our garage! That car was an '89 model that was bought 2nd hand and was with us from '92-'00 if I'm not mistaken. Its the top of the line model with the SOHC 12V GA16 engine and all power amenities. Ang bakal nun parang lata! Grabe ang yupi kapag nabangga! When it left us, it was in very good shape. Makintab pa ang paint job, and the engine runs fine, yun nga lang grabe na sobra ang gas consumption niya at mabilis masira ang piyesa't lagi nagpapapalit. And take note, it was only 11 years old at that time! Even our 2002 Trooper, even if it is known for being a lemon, has not had this much repairs done even if it is now around the same age as the Sentra was then!

As for the Sentra, I'd suggest you get the pre-Exalta units. These reportedly have very good handling as compared to the Exalta which was tuned for comfort and with handling disregarded. I'd suggest you get either the GTS, Super Touring or Super Saloon variants. If it doesn't have multireflector headlamps, have them replaced for it to greatly improve visibility. The above mentioned variants already have ABS and driver's airbag if I'm not mistaken along with the 110hp 1.6L DOHC 16 valve engine.